let it snow

Guess what it's doing here tonight?  I love it, feels like a little slice of home to me!

4 months for Parker!

Parker, Parker, Parker, Mommy wants you to stop growing!?!  You have been a bit bigger than your brother from the beginning but now it's just getting ridiculous, where has my baby boy gone?!  At the risk of repeating myself for the thousandth time, TIME FLIES!

We had Parker's 4 month appointment on Friday where he tipped the scales at 16 lbs, 11.5 oz (85%) and he was 27 1/4 in for length (way, way off the growth chart for a 4 month old)!  The Dr said he was average for a 9 month old, ha!

Parker, you are a sunny little guy, just like your big brother and we all adore you!  As in the second picture below, you have your hands in your mouth more frequently than not these days and I'm fearful you're already beginning to teeth by the amount of drool that spills down your chin daily.  You're not one for the pacifier so I think we're going to just avoid it altogether and that way we have one less thing to try to wean you of later :)

You giggle and laugh quite easily especially when your brother starts acting goofy for you; it is the most adorable thing to watch because you both just giggle and giggle and giggle at each other!

We put you in the nursery a few weeks back during church because you have gotten to be quite vocal.  I remember Grant staying with us until 8 months, you my child, are a different story!  You have also officially spent your first night in the crib, last night!  Grant was excited for you to have it in your room, I was a bit leary of what he would think when it magically appeared in your room but he was a champ about it and even "helped" Daddy take it out of his room and re-build it in yours! 

Tummy time is still not your favorite but you are getting better at it and tolerate it more frequently.  You are, however, allowing me to roll you from your front to your back and then back over again, a little trick from the pediatrician to try and coax you into rolling over on your own one of these days! 

We can't imagine life without you and are blessed beyond belief to call you our little boy!  We love you peanut!

Love,

Mommy

 A cute craft from Sunday School, notice how nice and neat Grant's is.....and how big Parker's is! Ha!

 This is what you do when you're 2 and waiting for it to snow outside! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!

We had a fun week celebrating Frank's birthday!

Grant's painting in it's beginning stages...

 Nearing completion and I have to note that Frank loved it since it was created especially for him on his birthday last week!

You can see Grant trying to help Frank blow out his birthday candles from across the table, ha!

 My 3 boys!

This weekend Great-Grandma Billie and Grandpa and Grandma R came to visit for Frank's birthday too!

Happy Birthday Honey, we LOVE YOU!!

new tricks!

Parker has a few new tricks to show off! 

He will tolerate the Bumbo chair but only for a few minutes at a time! 

Grant "helps" Parker play

We typically put the ball in Parker's hand for him and then he just stares and squeels at it but this afternoon he managed to pick it up off the floor all by himself!

behind the chair

As you can see, the big boy bed is working out just great! The last time I looked in on Grant this afternoon he was playing very nicely with his choo-choos on his nightstand. A short while later it got suspiciously quiet. I peeked again and looked all over his room until I finally had to open the door completely, let my eyes adjust to the light, climb over the child gate and follow the sound of his breathing to find him. Little turkey had fallen aleep with his head on top of his doggie, behind the rocking chair and under his nightlight! I was torn, do I get the camera and take a picture at the risk of him waking up....YES, thankfully though he didn't wake up!

sturdy

Parker had to go to the pediatrician last week, to have a small bump in his eyebrow line checked, and when they weighed him he was over 16 lbs! Holy smokes, he seems like a 6 month old instead of only 3 1/2 months! He would best be described as sturdy ;) He's got some really nice rolly thighs but other than that I think it's his length that holds the weight. This cute little outfit is 12 months in size?!!

He is supporting his head incredibly well and still laughs and giggles easily when we play with him, we all adore his noises! He lets us know when he's hungry and tired but otherwise is rather amicable and a fun loving little guy.

We love you Parker!

1:06 AM

There's nothing quite like being awakened in the middle of the night by a toddler! I was having a hard time going to sleep on Friday night, knowing that our little guy was in his toddler bed for the first time and not fenced into his crib, but by 1:06 AM I was sound asleep when Grant was standing bedside talking about how dark it was and the flashing lights on our charging cell phones?! He seriously scared the daylights out of me! Once he was safely back in bed I tossed and turned most of the night and, once again, by 6:45 AM here he came, toddling back down the hallway to our room! Live and learn, Saturday night, and every night since, he's had a gate up in his doorway so even if he decides to get out of bed he can't get out of his room.

Unfortunately, we picked the wrong weekend to make this transition, not only did he get a short night of sleep he also woke up Saturday morning with a fever and then throw in Daylight Savings and we had a rather tiring weekend!

Saturday night was more of the same but Sunday morning he was up even earlier at 5:50 AM and knocked his gate down in his doorway trying to get out....I was not happy!! I knew he wouldn't go back to sleep so we were up for the day....why, again, are we trying to get him to sleep in the big boy bed??? This is my little boy who has always been a great sleeper, to bed and sound asleep by 8 PM most nights and usually up in the morning around 7:30 AM!

By Sunday afternoon we were all dragging and VERY tired so, after his first offense of getting out of bed he was back in his crib for both nap and bedtime that night. I swear I slept better knowing he was again detained to his bedroom!

Since the weekend we are continuing to try the new bed first but once he's gotten out it's back to the crib...and I have to note this afternoon he took a 2 1/2 hour nap in his crib!

Oh Grant, I love you child but I do wish you would get in bed and stay there until morning! I promise if you start sleeping well again I will be a much happier and more pleasant Mommy ;)

Love you little guy,
Mom

racecar

Well guess who is in their big boy racecar bed for the first time tonight? Grant was sooooo excited to move the racecar into his room today and we discussed multiple times his new sleeping arrangement. I hope I didn't put the fear of God in him when sternly telling him he HAS to stay in his bed, NO getting out until morning!! Just to reinforce these new rules his crib is still handily next to the racecar in case of any offenses; he has been warned it will be back to the crib...aren't we nice?!

I should also note that I've already checked on him a handful of times...I just can't quit spying!! Each time I peek in he seems wide awake but hasn't explored beyond the bed, whew! I'll let you know in the morning how it all works out ;)

coupons

Today we were checking out at Michael's and the lady handed me coupons telling me they were good for next week. Grant immediately told her (and the rest of the store in his not so quiet voice), "COUPONS!! Rite Aid!"

I guess we stop at Rite Aid with coupons a bit too frequently these days, ha! He's going to be a bargain shopper yet!!

let's play in the leaves!

We had an unusually warm November day today so we took full advantage and played outside with Grant's friends, McKenzie and Jack! I remember playing in the leaves as a child and loving it; today was no different, they had a grand time! I should note that Parker was a trooper and slept through the entire playdate :)

Doing what they do best!

Parker doing what he does best these days...sleeping beauty! I just adore those chubby cheeks!

Grant doing what he does best these days....playing his beloved Barbie guitar while wearing his FAVORITE guitar shirt!